New macbook air for computer audio

The MacBook Air will allow you to use the iPhone and the Apple Remote app. (I assume you are using iTunes.)

You might want to take a serious look at the Apple Time Capsule. Not only does it allow automatic and wireless backup with Time Machine, but it can act as a wireless hard drive. This would allow you to have access to a large hard drive without external boxes and cables, and noisy spinning platters which can "tax" the power supply of the Air. What's the use in having solid state storage, if your going to directly connect a "spinning platter" drive? Time Capsules and NASs allow more flexibility and quality when setup correctly. This especially has merit since you are using a USB audio connection. It's usually best to keep the audio connection and storage connection on different protocols.

I would also recommend testing your USB to SPDIF converter to make sure it will be powered correctly by the Air. I don't think your converter requires much, if any, power.

Your thinking is right, you just need to make sure you do it correctly to benefit from what the Air can offer.

I just read the specs on the usb outs at apple.com

says it provides up to 1100 mA @ 5v basically upon need otherwise it is 500mA @ 5v all the time.

The according to M2tech the converter requires 5v from usb 2.0. No other info is given.

I thought I read somewhere that the air will not function with iphone remote..... I'll have to dig a little deeper.

Thanks.

Good, it looks like your USB converter will work.

The Apple Remote "app" will work, without a doubt. I've set a few of the new Airs up and they work fine with the Remote "app".

The new Air does not have an IR receiver, so the "physical" Apple Remote will not work. Note, there is a difference between the Remote "app" and the "physical" Remote.

Apple Remote for iTunes, an Apple app, does work for the new ( 2010 ) MB Air.

I do like the MBA very much however, personally, I would buy a Logitech Squeezebox Touch, use the iPeng remote-control app, and put the computer in some other room.

If you still need an additional computer for music storage I would get a mac mini ( possibly used on ebay, I see some for around $385 right now ) and plug a firewire/usb external disk into it and store your music on the external disk ( for portability ).

This may not be the optimal solution for you however, it is what I would do.

I haven't done this because I think that SACD DSD recordings are just this year maturing and are nothing short of incredible.

Hessec, I do own the Air with optional SSD. It is one darn sexy little number, but I will never download/store music. Hmmm...(reminds me of when I bought a used B&O 5000 25+yrs ago, no TT, then their first linier tracking table came out. Bought it new with m3 cartridge $500. Loved it! Next their first CDP came out, 5500.. I inquired the price..$1000.!! Hey, I loved LP's...I will never get into CD's, I said!!). Well...I recently bought a Naim cd555/ps555 and am building a CD collection...I will NEVER say NEVER again, really this time! Oh, Mac Pro is so much more in performance than Air. This is one example where a little more $ buys alot more. Enjoy